MEREDITH — An "Elf on the Shelf" contest is being held in conjunction with the Christmas Stroll in the Village and Art Walk on Thursday, December 18 from 5-7 p.m.

The elf will be traveling to participating businesses until December 18. Visitors of businesses can submit a ticket designating where it was last placed and win the following prizes, an "Elf on the Shelf" book or DVD or gift certificates to local merchants. The Kinder Choir will sing at 6:30 p.m. in Community Park on Main with the drawing for the "Elf on the Shelf" prizes to follow.

For more information about GMP or volunteer opportunities, please call 603.279.9015, email
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or visit the website at www.greatermeredithprogram.com.

CAPTION — Santa’s elf helper, Tuffy Hamblet, is shown with one of the prizes. (Courtesy photo)

LACONIA — On Saturday, December 20 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Annie's Book Stop located at 1330 Union Avenue in Laconia will host local writer Maxwell MacPherson Jr. Maxwell has written numerous articles for fly fishing and fly tying magazines. He also writes original song lyrics.

A graduate from New York University, he lives with his wife, Darlene, and their cats, Moon and June, in central NH. He will be signing copies of two books from a trilogy: A Family Affair: On Love and Animals and A Family Affair: Forever Yours. Come by and meet the author, have a special book signed for your avid reader for Christmas and enjoy some holiday cookies.

Book 1: As Alex Samuels grows and learns about his New England locale, he becomes an avid fisherman and fly tier. He is a young man in his middle teens who leads a morally fit life and harbors a passion for wildlife. Bess Walton grows up in Manhattan, and her family travels to NH to find a new life different from her father's corporate life in the big city. The Samuel's and Walton's become intertwined as Bess, the NY City girl, and Alex, the country boy, spend more time together. A Family Affair begins the adventures of Alex and Bess as their romance blossoms.

Book 2: This book carries on with the next generation of the Samuel's family. More animal life stories lead the principal characters, Alex and Bess, living in central NH, are into fishing, hunting, and other animal observations as the Samuel's grow in their love for each other and their interaction with wildlife. The beauty and simple life in The Granite State are seen in the travels of this young couple to many places in the Belchertown area. Yankee dialogue is used to give the reader a picture of what the New England mentality is like. The reading of A Family Affair both captivates and intrigues the reader while teaching young folks about love and animal life.

TILTON — Members of the Tilton Professional Fire Fighters Association Local #4659 raised $2,400 during the annual Fill the Boot drive to benefit children and adults affected by muscle disease throughout New Hampshire."For six decades, fire fighters have fueled MDA's mission to find treatments and cures for life-threatening muscle diseases, and this year's Tilton Fill the Boot results are a perfect example of the true dedication Tilton Professional Fire Fighters Association Local #4659 has toward supporting the families we serve," said MDA Fundraising Coordinator Michele Masse. "We're grateful for the support of these inspiring, selfless individuals who provide life-saving help that will fund research, advocate for children and adults affected by muscle disease, and rally our community to fight back."Funds raised through 2014 Tilton-Northfield Fill the Boot event's will help support MDA's programs of worldwide research, specialized health care services, and day-to-day support – which includes sending children affected by muscular dystrophy and related muscle diseases to a weeklong, barrier-free MDA summer camp at Camp Allen in Bedford, NH.As the Muscular Dystrophy Association's largest national sponsor, the IAFF fuels MDA's mission to find treatments and cures for life-threatening muscle diseases.The IAFF is a major contributing sponsor of the MDA Show of Strength Telethon, and IAFF contributions from charity baseball games and other local events help support MDA's efforts to raise awareness and provide professional and public education about neuromuscular diseases.IAFF support for MDA began in 1954 when the organization committed by proclamation to support MDA until a cure is found, and the organization's unwavering commitment to MDA has remained strong to this day. The IAFF raised $100,000 for MDA in 1955, and $1 million in 1970, and fire fighters continue to raise the bar in their fundraising efforts. In 2013, more than 100,000 fire fighters participated in Fill the Boot events across the country and raised $26.2 million. To date the IAFF has raised $530 million for MDA.

LACONIA — Granite State Glass recently presented a $10,000 check to the 2014 NH1 Children's Auction in support of the annual five day event held every December in Laconia with the help of countless volunteers and donors who have helped turn it into a major campaign on an annual basis since 1982.

"We've supported the Children's Auction for years and this year we really wanted to take it to the next level" said David Ryan from Granite State Glass who was on hand with Drew Marcotte to present the check. "This was a great opportunity to give back to the communities who have supported GSG over the years and join so many other organizations who help make this event possible."

Local companies and volunteers support the WLNH Children's Auction by providing cash donations, sponsorships, and staff, allowing employees to serve the community at the WLNH Children's Auction during what would normally be work hours. Binnie Media, Bank of NH Pavilion at Meadowbrook, MetroCast, Franklin Savings Bank, Meredith Village Savings Bank, Bank of New Hampshire, Laconia Athletic and Swim Club, Patrick's Pub and Eatery and many other organizations contribute their priceless support.

Everything for the event is donated; phone service, trees, lights, auction items, computers, the location where the auction is held. Even the food is donated by local restaurants which provide meals for the all volunteer staff throughout the week.